Vita in Motuhttp://go.fareine.com
Life in MotionThu, 08 Mar 2018 17:39:06 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4http://go.fareine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/cropped-Vita-in-Motu-1-32x32.pngVita in Motuhttp://go.fareine.com
3232140479024False Starts and Other Excuseshttp://go.fareine.com/false-starts
http://go.fareine.com/false-starts#respondThu, 08 Mar 2018 17:39:06 +0000http://go.fareine.com/?p=1215I Want vs. I Will The first time I felt compelled to travel longterm was back in college. My major had a study abroad partnership with a theater and film program in Dublin, Ireland, and I had always had a fascination with Celtic folklore (to […]

The first time I felt compelled to travel longterm was back in college. My major had a study abroad partnership with a theater and film program in Dublin, Ireland, and I had always had a fascination with Celtic folklore (to the point that I seriously considered minoring in Medieval language and literature). However, studying abroad was not in the cards, or at least not in my financial aid package.

The second time I thought about traveling longterm was in graduate school. The University of Virginia was home to Semester at Sea, and there were a few classmates who studied international education opportunities and pursued opportunities abroad. But I decided against it, because I just wasn’t experienced enough.

Shenandoah!

In 2014, I read Cheryl Strayed’s Wild (you know what comes next, gag). I was going through a particularly hard time at that point in my life and decided that something needed to change. So I promised myself I’d either move to a different city or hike the Appalachian Trail in 2015. The deciding factor would be whether or not I could get a job offer by March. I got a job offer in Chicago in February.

I almost backed out of going to Southeast Asia too. All throughout 2017, it was just a hypothetical that I happened to tell other people about. “I’d like to do a long trip in Southeast Asia, maybe in 2019,” I would say. My internal deadline was before I turned 33 (that seems like a good general milestone at the moment, so why not?). But then a series of different things began happening. A new relationship. Involvement in new projects and activities. More responsibility at the full time job. My own place.

Other things started happening as well. Those friends who spent their 20s single were now in their 30s and starting to settle down. Those who were already married were now having kids. The artists I knew were either making it or turned in their side hustle lifestyle in for a steady 9 to 5.

In other words, I felt like I needed to shit or get off the pot.

Disruption

Here’s the thing: The people who do longterm travel are typically still in their 20s. So I knew that the longer I waited, the less likely it would be that I would actually do it.

Reminder to self: I am my own anchor.

The most difficult part about making the decision was that my life felt pretty stable, and leaving meant choosing to disrupt that stability. While I’m not afraid of change, I tend to be passive when it comes to the details of making big decisions. I’ll do something, but I’ll let circumstances dictate what that something is. Uncertainty is fine, as long as I have an anchor (typically a job) holding me in place.

I haven’t left yet, but I’m already glad I decided to go on this trip.

Reigniting Creativity

Since I announced I was leaving, a few different things happened. My inspiration to write returned. Several random storytelling opportunities came to surface. A couple friends mentioned potential remote working opportunities for when I got back from traveling. And suddenly, I really wanted to take pictures again.

As I started packing and was reorganizing my external hard drives (apparently firewire hasn’t been a thing for several years, whoops), I noticed a distinct drop in the number of pictures I took beginning in 2012. Before then, I used to carry my camera around with me all the time. Take pictures of my friends, of random people on the street. Hop in my car and drive several hours just to capture new scenery. And then I stopped, because someone close to me made me feel like I wasn’t a good photographer unless I was making money from it, and I while I was making some money from it, I wasn’t necessarily making bank. But looking back, I was actually a really damn good photographer and I’m really mad at myself for letting someone else make me feel otherwise.

The quality of art shouldn’t be quantified with the amount of money you make. Success shouldn’t be determined by how you stack up in comparison to others. Their happiness doesn’t equal your happiness.

A Rant About America’s Fixation on Wealth

I read a blog post about Homelessness in the U.S. by Stacey from One Travels Far, which gives an interesting take on homelessness from an expat’s perspective, and what stood out to me in that post, along with some of her other posts, is America’s fixation on wealth and status. And it’s so true. This entire post, I’ve been waxing on about not being able to travel because of a job or money situation. What if we lived in a world where the amount of money we have doesn’t drive what we do with our time? Where our jobs don’t form our whole identities and self-worth? What if we had time to actually focus on being creative and bettering the world and helping each other, rather than spending a third of our lives or more staring at a screen and pushing buttons?

Of course, I’m writing all of this from a position of privilege—I’m an American citizen with random connections all over the world who has the luxury of quitting my job to backpack around Asia for a few months. As I’ve been budgeting for this trip, I’ve started to get used to seeing how far I can stretch the US Dollar, and I balk when I have to spend more than $50 on a flight to a different country within the region. And there are miners in East Java who make the equivalent of $58 USD per week climbing up and down Ijen to collect sulfur. And that’s well-paid for Indonesia.

You Do You.

All this is to say that there really is no such thing as normal or the right way to do things. Everything is relative. And everything (at least in America) is a choice. The idea of building a successful life through a career and home ownership and family is a very American way of thinking, but there are other ways of going about finding “success” (whatever that means to you) as well. We’re all going to die eventually, so we might as well enjoy the journey rather than treat life like a means to an end. So find your happy. And treat other people with respect. You do you.

]]>http://go.fareine.com/false-starts/feed01215Trip Planning V.1: Pre-Booking Planshttp://go.fareine.com/trip-planning-v-1-pre-booking-plans
http://go.fareine.com/trip-planning-v-1-pre-booking-plans#respondWed, 28 Feb 2018 22:22:42 +0000http://go.fareine.com/?p=1082A general technique I like to use for dealing with stress and anxiety is planning to not plan. For instance, I have a flight booked to Hong Kong booked for March 27, and a flight to the Philippines booked for April 2, and because they […]

]]>A general technique I like to use for dealing with stress and anxiety is planning to not plan. For instance, I have a flight booked to Hong Kong booked for March 27, and a flight to the Philippines booked for April 2, and because they won’t let me into the Philippines without a flight out, I have a flight to Singapore booked for some time in late April, and that’s pretty much the extent of what I have planned for this trip. Budgeting and preparing to leave a job while solving the sublet/storage/cat-sitting situation apparently takes up a lot of time, and trying to figure all that out while planning this trip would just suck the fun out of everything.

Anyway, I had marked on my calendar to spend February figuring out pre-trip logistics and to not think about the trip itself until March. Check. So now it’s time to “roughly” plan a trip route. This means getting a sense of the geography and transportation options. When is monsoon season? Just kidding, I looked that up before booking any flights. Always figure out your weather situation before booking a flight.

Actually, before I talk about how much I HAVEN’T planned yet, here’s a list of things you should really figure out before you book a long trip, ever:

Budget/Money

What is your daily budget while traveling abroad? Factor in transportation costs, lodging, food, attractions, emergency costs in case of sickness, etc. Be realistic about your spending habits. For instance, I’m not big on souvenirs and I’m cool with eating street food and sleeping in buses/random corners budget hostels, but I know I’m apt to spend money on experiences like scuba diving. Plan accordingly.

What is the current exchange rate? Currency fluctuates, so be aware of how much your home currency is worth and plan for changes between when you book your trip and when you actually travel.

What is your method of payment? Are ATMs common in that country? Will you be using mostly cash or credit? Consider the exchange rate and extra fees attached. (I ended up needing to sign up for a new credit card that waived international fees since my current credit card charged for that.)

Weather

What is the climate/temperature like? This will impact what/how much you have to pack. If you’re backpacking, consider buying extra clothes abroad if the cost of living is cheaper than your home country. Weather also impacts what you’re able to do while abroad.

Visa Policies and Requirements

What are the visa policies of the countries you’re visiting? Some will let you apply at the border, but require cash. Others require you to apply several weeks to months in advance and need specific paperwork. Visiting length vary from country to country. In some countries, you’ll need to provide proof that you’re leaving the country in the allotted time (such as a return flight ticket). You should always have extra photos for visas on you.

Does that country have any immunization requirements? If you’re able to, ask your doctor or a travel specialist. For instance, I knew in advance that I’d need malaria pills, but I had no idea that a Hepatitis A epidemic was currently breaking out in southeast Asia until I asked my doctor. Also note that insurance doesn’t always cover preventative travel care.

Transportation Options

How will you get around the country once you land? Car rental? Train? Bus? Uber?Guide? Hitchhiking? Familiarize yourself with transportation options, costs and customs, and be aware of potential scams. Being familiar with your options also helps with budgeting.

Politics

Be aware of the political climate in the country you’re visiting. Is there civil unrest? Is the government dependable? Are the police trustworthy or corrupt? Originally, I had planned to go to Myanmar, but there has been a lot of civil unrest near the border crossings in the past year, so I scrapped that idea for obvious safety reasons.

How does the country you’re visiting view your home country? Is there a history of conflict? What are current relations like between your countries? Are you comfortable navigating potential conflicts?

Culture and Language

Be aware of the official language. Don’t ever assume anyone will know how to speak your language. It helps to know basic terms like “Hello,” “Goodbye,” “Please,” “Thank you,” “I am from _____,” “Where is the restroom?” “I don’t understand,” “I understand,” “Do you speak _______?” “Yes,” “No,” “Check, please,” and “Help.” (I’ve gotten stuck in elevators abroad before and knowing how to say “Help” comes in handy.)

Know cultural customs. Is the culture liberal or conservative? What clothing is appropriate to wear? What are meal schedules like? How strict are certain customs? If you’re a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, what are your food options? As with all travel abroad, you are a visitor to this country, so knowing if you’re comfortable with adapting to these customs will help you determine whether you should go.

There’s so much more that you need to research and plan for before going on any trip abroad (such as taxi etiquette, a general travel route, medical options for prescriptions, types of toilets), but the list outlined above are the basics you should consider before booking any flights.

Whew. I started writing this post with the intent of writing about how I have no idea where I’m going after Singapore, but it turned into this. Guess I’ll have to write something else later!

]]>http://go.fareine.com/trip-planning-v-1-pre-booking-plans/feed01082A Lady and Her Backpackhttp://go.fareine.com/a-lady-and-her-backpack
http://go.fareine.com/a-lady-and-her-backpack#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 22:23:12 +0000http://go.fareine.com/?p=804Since I turned 16, the longest I’ve spent without a job was… never. I’ve always been working, maybe taking 1-2 week breaks here and there, but otherwise always beholden to an employer and throughout adulthood, bills. My career was my identity, and I identified with […]

]]>Since I turned 16, the longest I’ve spent without a job was… never. I’ve always been working, maybe taking 1-2 week breaks here and there, but otherwise always beholden to an employer and throughout adulthood, bills. My career was my identity, and I identified with my career.

In 2016, I began questioning if I was living in the right city. I had moved to Chicago a few years prior with the intention of eventually moving somewhere else, but as luck would have it, I had ended up making some pretty great friends. Life was pretty good, I realized, and then a thought crossed my mind: If I don’t leave Chicago soon, I’m never going to leave.

So I hatched a plan: Save up money, then travel somewhere—Southeast Asia seemed like a good idea—and then go wherever fate takes me. Because if there’s anything I’m good at, it’s making small decisions based on logic and then stomping all over those decisions and flipping the table because I felt like it.

As it turns out, I gained most of the clarity I was hoping to find on a big international trip by staying put during this year of complacency. Weird how that all works out. Apparently, I have everything I want in Chicago (it’s just a matter of aligning the pieces, #goals, more on this eventually), so the purpose of this trip is to hit pause, explore the things I’ve been interested in learning about without the constraint of having responsibilities, and to return home in a few months to focus on adulty things, hopefully knowing a bit more than before.

For the next three months, I’m looking forward to:

Connecting with relatives

Learning about my family’s culture

Educating myself on world history and global issues

Writing

Being adventurous

Connecting with relatives

As a second generation American and military brat, my family is spread out all over the place, with the majority of my extended family still being in the Philippines. We were never really close to family as kids, so the first part of my trip will be spent in the Philippines getting to know relatives. Who are they? How do they spend their time? What drives them? How do they feel about the American side of our family? What about the Chinese side? Is everyone really a doctor, engineer, or business owner?

I have so many questions.

Learning about my family’s culture

Full disclosure: I’m really damn American. So American that despite going through three years of Spanish and three years of Japanese, the only language I can speak is still English. I’ve only been to the Philippines once (I was 10) and my most poignant memory from that trip was riding on a rollercoaster at a megamall in Cebu City.

A few weeks ago, I was talking with an acquaintance about assimilation vs acculturation and how it impacts our worldview as children of immigrants. My parents raised me and my siblings to fully assimilate in American culture, whereas my aunt raised my cousin to retain the language, values, and customs of the Filipino culture. And despite both of us being born in America, my cousin and I are very, very different.

Over the years, I’ve come to terms with not really having a connection to the Philippines. I’m just a southern gal living in the midwest, y’all. But I would be lying if I said it didn’t bother me when white dudes with Filipino ex-girlfriends start explaining my heritage to me. Or that it didn’t feel isolating when I attend cultural events celebrating Filipino heritage. That heritage shaped who my parents are, which indirectly shapes who I am. And as my parents’ daughter, I feel like I owe them as much to try and understand what all that entails.

As a human being, I’d like to be less ethnocentric.

Learning more about world history and global issues

It’s not a coincidence that this trip was timed to start the week after primaries and end a few months before the November election. The past few years have felt chaotic, and I, like a lot of my peers, am tired of complaining of how things are and am ready to actually do something about all of it.

But I still have a lot to learn. I can pontificate on and on about women’s rights, educational reform and wage inequality, but I know very little about global affairs. And while I sure as hell don’t expect to become an expert on it, it would be nice to take a little break from domestic issues and gain a little perspective on what’s going on in the world. None of the problems we’re facing today are new. History repeats itself. It helps to get outside the bubble.

Writing

My thoughts are often scattered and I have trouble articulating them, which isn’t great when you’re supposed to be a communications professional. But being a good writer takes practice, so I’ll write.

Being adventurous

Okay, it’s cute that I’m on this cultural and historical knowledge-quest, right? But like every good adventurer, I’ll need to balance the serious with the fun, so you’ll find me scuba diving, rock climbing, hostel-hopping, and doing all sorts of crazy shit in between.

The Plan (for now)

I’m leaving at the end of March, spending a few days in Hong Kong, then a month in the Philippines. In May, I’ll be backpacking through Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, then in June I’ll be in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Viet Nam. So far, the only solid plans (outside of meeting a friend in Thailand) are: Don’t get stung by box jellyfish, don’t step on a land mine, and don’t get kidnapped.

Soooo, yeah. The countdown is on (less than 5 weeks), then it’s just me and my backpack! Let’s do this.